Troy Buswell: Calls for inquiry over damage to former treasurer's car

Troy Buswell's ministerial car is towed from his home on Roberts Road in Subiaco.

Supplied: Channel 7

There has been a call for an independent inquiry into whether the Western Australian Government has tried to cover up an incident involving the former treasurer Troy Buswell's car.

Police were called after reports a car was seen being driven erratically in Subiaco late at night.

Residents in Olive Street in Subiaco also reported that a car hit a telegraph pole and sideswiped a parked vehicle in the early hours of February 23.

Police went to Roberts Road and found Mr Buswell's damaged ministerial car parked behind his gate.

State Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says the Government has consistently refused to detail what it knows about the incident and surrounding events.

"I think there is significant evidence that needs an inquiry to get to the bottom of whether or not there was a cover-up, " he said.

Two weeks after the accident and following the resignation of Mr Buswell from Cabinet, police re-interviewed the woman who owns one of the cars which was damaged.

The investigation, which is looking at several collisions in Subiaco, has been passed to the Major Crash squad.

Allegations of Buswell cover-up

The Government has so far remained tight-lipped on the nature of the investigation.

I don't know why the Police Minister's being so secretive about this.

Michelle Roberts

Labor's police spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said the Police Minister should have at least confirmed in Parliament that there were other investigations.

"A police minister who wouldn't confirm just the basics that these other instances were being looked at... now that was plain for people to see," she said.

"I mean, news crews went out into the streets there, spoke to people and police were clearly visible interviewing people about complaints they hadn't followed up on two weeks ago.

"I don't know why the Police Minister's being so secretive about this."

In Parliament, Premier Colin Barnett labelled Opposition questions about Mr Buswell as the most distasteful he has ever experienced.

For the third day in a row, Labor MPs quizzed the Premier over whether anyone knew how Mr Buswell's ministerial car was damaged.

They also asked why the Premier said Mr Buswell would be returning to work shortly, despite knowing he had had a breakdown.

It triggered a fiery exchange in Parliament as the Premier hit back.

"I have never, ever, in my time in this place, experienced questions about the private health of a member of this house," he said.

"I have never had that. This is distasteful, it is un-parliamentary, and Mr Speaker, maybe you should consider that!"

Multiple crash theory

The police investigation is focused on four vehicles that were damaged in the West Perth-Subiaco area early on February 23.

Mr Buswell's ministerial car, which has been towed from his home by police, has obvious damage to its front bumper.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said the case could have been better dealt with by police officers when the crash happened.

"The issue is, I think, the original complainant went to the media because we didn't close it off on the night," he said.

"So as I said before, if the police officers had gone there on the night and spoken to that person they may not have got frustrated and gone to the media about it and we would have had the information a lot earlier."

Mr O'Callaghan says links between Mr Buswell's crash and the other damaged cars have not been established.